A 

SERMON, 

DELIVERED    BEFORE    THE 

CONVENTION 

O  F     T  H  E 

CLERGY 

OF 

MASSACHUSETTS, 

IN  BOSTON,  MAY  26,  1796. 


BY   JEREMY    BELKNAP, 

MINISTER  OF  THE  CHURCH   IN  FEDERAL-STREET,  BOSTON. 


Laudatur  ab  his,  culpatur  ab  illis. 

—  •  Hie  murus  aheneus  eflo, 

Nil  confcire  fibi,  nulla  pallefcere  culpa. 

HORACE. 


Printed  by  SAMUEL  HALL,  No.  53,  Cornhill,  BOSTON* 
1796. 


2  TIMOTHY,   I.  8. 

-BE  THOU  PARTAKER  OF  THE  AFFLICTIONS  OF 
THE  GOSPEL,  ACCORDING  TO  THE  POWER 
OF  GOD. 


w- 


HEN  tlie  great  Apoftle  of  the  Gentiles 
was  firft  called  to  be  an  ambaffador  of  Jefus  Chrift, 
the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  mew  him  how  great  things 
he  mufl  fuffer  for  his  name's  fake  ;  and  during  the 
whole  courfe  of  his  miniftry,  the  Holy  Ghoft  witnefled 
that  in  every  city,  bonds  and  afflictions  awaited  him. 
But  fuch  was  his  invincible  refolution  in  the  /ervice 
of  his  divine  Mafter,  that  none  of  thefe  things  moved 
him,  nor  did  he  count  his  life  dear  to  himfelf,  fo  that 
he  might  finim  his  courfe  with  joy,  and  the  miniftry 
which  he  had  received  of  the  Lord. 

HAVING  patted  through  a  courfe  of  laborious  and 
faithful  fervice  ;  having  endured  every  affliction,  and 
furmounted  every  diiliculty  which  lay  in  his  way, 
and  having  arrived  fo  near  the  end  of  life  as  to  be 
able  to  fay,  "  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,,  and  the 
time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand  ;"  he  does,  in  this 
epiftle,  (on,e  of  the  laft  which  he  wrote)  encourage 

his 


kis  fon  Timothy  to  imitate  his  example,  and  not  tt> 
be  afliamed  of  the  teilimony  of  the  Lord,  nor  of  him 
who  was  then  a  prifoner  for  his  fake  ;  but  to  be  a 
partaker  with  him  of  the  afflictions  of  the  gofpel. 

HAD  Paul  himfelf  been  afliamed  of  the  caufe  he 
had  undertaken  to  fupport,  or  had  he  been  confcious 
of  an  error  therein,  natural  affection  would  have 
prompted  him  (as  is  common  with  dying  malefactors) 
to  warn  his  beloved  friend,  of  the  danger  of  following 
his  example,  and  to  exhort  him  to  a  different  courlb 
of  life  :  but  knowing  in  whom  he  had  believed  ; 
knowing  the  dignity  and  importance  of  the  work  to 
which  Timothy  had  been  ordained,  and  the  certain 
reward  which  awaited  the  faithful  minifter  ;  knowing 
that  the  fpirit  by  which  they  both  were  animated 
was  not  the  fpirit  of  fear,  but  of  power  and  love  and 
of  a  found  mind,  his  tendernefs  toward  him  operated 
in  a  different  way,  and  prompted  him  rather  to  defire 
that  Timothy  mould  continue  ftedfaft  in  his  Matter's 
work,  and  patiently  endure  the  afflictions  of  the  gof- 
pel. 

SUCH  a  pathetic  exhortation,  enforced  by  fo  ftrik- 
ing  an  example,  could  not  but  have  great  force  on 
the  mind  of  this  young  evangelift  ;  and,  as  it  was 
written  not  for  his  fake  alone,  but  for  a  ftanding  di- 
rection to  gofpel  minifters,  we  have  reafon  to  believe 
that  it  has  had  a  very  extenfive  influence  in  the  paft 
ages  of  Chriftianity.  It  ftill  continues  on  record  for 
our  admonition  and  encouragement. 

IT  was  more  efpecially  neceffary  that  the  primitive 
minifters  fhould  have  fuch  an  exhortation  addreffed  to 
them,  becaufe  of  the  peculiar  and  extraordinary  trials 
which  many  o'f  them  had  to  undergo.  The  genius 
of  Chriftianity  was  fo  oppofite  to  all  the  prevailing 
religious  opinions  and  eftabliihments  in  the  heathen 
world,  and  made  fuch  a  furprizing  progrefs  in  turning 

men  from  darknefs  to  lisrht,  and  from  ferving  dumb 

« i  i 
idols 


idols  to  worshipping  the  living  God,  that  the  ruling; 
powers  became  jealous  of  its  growth,  and  laboured,, 
by  the  moft  fanguinary  terrors,  to  fupprefs  or  eradi- 
cate it.  The  public  minifters  of  Chriftianity  being 
always  diftinguifhed  by  their  office,  were  often  diftin- 
guifhed  by  their  fufFerings  j  and  in  this  refpect,  as 
well  as  others,  they  were  called  to  be  examples  to  the 
flock  ;  examples  of  patience  and  fortitude  in  their 
adherence  to  Chrift  and  his  caufe,  amidft  the  moll 
terrible  oppofition  of  their  enemies  ;  whom  neither 
reafon  could  perfuade,  nor  experience  convince,  of  the 
folly  of  their  attempt.  The  profeffion  of  Chriftianity, 
and  efpecially  the  public  character  which  the  minifters 
of  the  gofpel  fuftained,  was  then  attended  with  the 
greateft  hazard  ;  and  therefore  they  needed  fome 
fpecial  fupport  and  encouragement.  But  though  the 
minifters  and  difciples  of  Jems  Chrift  are  not  now 
cxpofed  to  the  peril  of  their  lives  for  the  fake  of  Chrift 
and  his  religion  ;  yet  the  exhortation  in  the  text  has 
a  very  important  ufe  ;  and  the  Holy  Ghoft,  who 
indited  it,  knew  that  there  would  always  be  fufficient 
need  of  it.  The  world  has  not  loft  that  fpirit  of  op- 
pofition to  the  truth,  which  it  had  in  the  primitive 
times  ;  the  mode  of  its  operation  is  changed  ;  but 
the  inveteracy  of  it  remains  ;  it  is  often  brought  into 
view,  and  produces  difagreeable  effects.  There  are 
ftill  many  afflictions  to  which  the  minifters  of  the  gof- 
pel are  expofed,  and  which  they  may  certainly  expect 
to  meet  with,  if  they  continue  fteadily  and  earneftly 
engaged  in  their  duty,  and  are  determined  to  keep  a 
confcience  void  of  offence  towards  God  and  man. 

IN  common  with  other  men,  we  are  fubjett  to  all 
thofe  providential  afflictions  which  God  fends  as  fath- 
erly chaftifements  to  correct  his  people  for  their  errors, 
to  try  their  virtues,  and  make  them  partakers  of  his 
holinefs.  But  befide  thefe,  WE  are  fubject  to  afflictions 
of  a  peculiar  kind,  which  may,  with  itrict  propriety, 
be  called  "  the  afflictions  of  the  gofpel,"  becaufe  they 

befa! 


[     s     3 

befal  us  on  account  of  our  peculiar  character  as  the 
minifters  of  Jefus  Chrift.  Thefe  afflictions  arife  from 
thofe  corrupt  lufts  and  paffions  which  are  always 
working  in  oppofition  to  divine  truth,  under  the  in- 
fluence of  the  prince  of  darknefs. 

HAPPY  would  it  be  for  us,  if  we  did  not  experience 
much  affliction  ariiing  from  our  own  unmortified  lufts 
and  paffions.  We  are,  like  other  men,  compounded  of 
flefh  and  fpirit  ;  and  we  often  find,  to  our  forrow, 
that  the  fleih  lufteth  againft  the  fpirit,  fo  that  we  can- 
not do  the  things  which  we  would  ;  and  when  we 
would  do  good,  evil  is  prefent  with  us.  But  if, 
through  grace,  we  do  obtain,  in  fome  degree,  the 
maftery  over  our  own  corruptions  ;  yet  we  fhall  not 
find  it  fo  practicable  to  keep  the  lufts  and  paffions  of 
other  men,  of  thofe  with  whom  we  have  a  neceffary 
connection,  yea  of  our  dear  eft  friends,  in  the  fame 
degree  of  fubjection.  We  fhall  find  very  {harp  and 
fevere  afflictions  ariiing  from  this  fource  ;  of  thefe  we 
are  exhorted  to  be  partakers  ;  and  we  fhall  find  fuf- 
ficient  comfort  and  fupport  in  the  divine  word  to 
enable  us  to  bear  them  with  patience. 

IT  may  be  proper  to  enumerate  fome  of  thofe  pe- 
culiar trials  which  may  be  juftly  called  the  ajftiflions 
of  the  gofpel ;  and  then  fliow  why,  and  in  what  fenfe, 
the  power  of  God  is  given  as  a  reafon  of  the  exhorta* 
tion  to  be  partakers  of  thefe  afflictions. 

i.  ONE  of  thefe  afflictions,  of  which  we  are  called 
to  partake,  is  the  unfuccefsfulnefs  of  our  labours.  Who 
hath  believed  our  report  ?  is  an  old  complaint  among 
the  minifters  of  God.  The  world,  and  the  things  of 
the  world,  have  taken  fuch  firm  hold  of  men's  hearts 
as  to  engrofs  the  principal  part  of  their  attention,  and 
leave  little  room  for  things  of  a  fpiritual  nature. 
Prefent  things  afford  fome  profpect  of  prefent  good ; 
whilft  things  unfeen  and  eternal  are  imagined  to  be 
at  a  great  diftance,  and  not  to  require  our  prefent  at- 
tention. 


C       9       3 

tention.  This  is  the  general  temper  of  the  worldj 
and  this  is  what  ihuts  the  gofpel  out  of  men's  hearts, 
Cuilom,  and  a  fenfe  of  decency,  will  induce  fome  of 
them  to  an  outward  obfervance  of  religious  duties, 
and  attendance  on  divine  inilitutions,  and  even  to 
treat  us  with  a  degree  of  refpect,  becaufe  of  our  fa- 
cred  character ;  but  their  hearts  will  not  be  touched 
with  a  ferious  fenfe  of  divine  things,  nor  will  their 
lives  and  behaviour  be  regulated  by  the  gofpel.  Such 
were  the  people  to  whom  the  Prophet  Ezekiel  minif- 
tered :  "  They  come  to  thee  as  the  people  cometh, 
and  they  fit  before  thee  as  my  people,  and  they  hear 
thy  words,  but  they  will  not  do  them  ;  for  with  their 
mouth  they  ihew  much  love,  but  their  heart  goeth 
after  their  covetoufnefs.  And  lo,  thou  art  to  them 
as  a  very  lovely  fong  of  one  that  hath  a  pleafant  voice, 
and  can  play  well  on  an  inftrument,  for  they  hear  thy 
words,  but  they  do  them  not."  Such  a  kind  of  be- 
haviour in  people  may  fuit  one  who  is  feeking  his 
own  eafe  and  comfort  and  popularity  ;  but  the  true 
minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift,  though  he  cannot  but  be 
pleafed  with  outward  tokens  of  refpeft,  becaufe  they 
are  in  a  degree  fubfervient  to  his  ufefulnefs  ;  yet  is 
not  fatisiied  with  them,,  as  anfwering  the  end  of  his 
mimicry.  He  knows  the  value  of  fouls,  and  of  that 
precious  blood  which  was  fhed  to  redeem  them.  He 
knows  the  great  importance  of  the  work  wrhich  he 
has  undertaken,  and  the  folemn  account  which  he  muft 
render  of  his  ftewardfhip  ;  and  therefore  his  heart's 
deiire  and  prayer  to  God  is,  that  they  may  be  laved. 
He  longs  to  fee  the  truth  take  hold  of  their  hearts,  and 
{hew  its  happy  fruit  in  their  holy  and  exemplary  lives. 
But  as  a  courfe  of  difappointment  in  any  of  our  dar- 
ling expectations  is  a  grief  and  burden  to  the  mind, 
fo  it  may  be  concluded,  that  the  faithful  minifter  fnfters 
great  affliction  from  a  view  of  the  unfuccefsfuJneis  of 
his  labours.  When,  after  all  his  intenfe  iluclicj,  his 
watchings  and  felf-denial,  he  finds  that  his  hearers  are 
ftill  hardened  through  the  deoeitfulneis  of  fin,  deaf  to 
B  the 


the  calls  and  invitations  of  the  gofpel,  and  blind  to 
their  true  intereft  ;  when  he  reflects  that  his  earneft- 
nefs  in  feeking  their  good  may  prove  an  aggravation 
of  their  guilt";  when  he  fees  them  droppingrone  after 
another,  into  the  grave,  and  has  reafon  to  fear  that 
many  of  them  will  perifh  through  their  own  negli- 
gence and  folly  ;  thefe  things  muil  afFe^cl  him  with 
the  moil  fenfible  grief,  whilft  he  filently  adores  that 
tremendous  jullice  which  fuffers  fo  many  unhappy 
fouls  to  plunge  themfelves  into  the  mifery  of  tlie  fu- 
ture world. 

2.  THE  levity  and  inconftancy^  which  appear  in  men's 
religious  conduct,  prove  another  fource  of  affliction  to 
the  miniflers  of  the  gofpel.  Where  people  have  been 
ufed  to  a  variety  of  preaching,  they  are  very  apt  to 
grow  nice  and  tally,  to  difcover  a  fondnefs  for  novelty, 
and  to  be  pleafed  or  difpleafed  with  fome  external 
circumilances  attending  the  preacher,  as  his  looks,  his 
voice,  his  geilure,  his  ilyle  and  manner,  without  any 
regard  to  the  truth  preached,  or  the  confequence  of 
receiving  or  rejecting  it.  If  it  comes  attended  with 
fome  particular  circumilances,  then  it  is  pleaiing,  not 
for  the  fake  of  its  own  intrinfic  worth  and  excellency, 
but  on  account  of  thofe  external  circumilances  ; 
whereas  if  the  truth  be  ever  fo  plainly  and  faithfully 
delivered,  yet  if  it  be  deilitute  of  thofe  ornaments 
which  attract  the  fancy  and  pleafe  the  taile,  it  is  defpif- 
ed  and  rejected.  Men's  perfons  are  had  in  admiration 
becaufe  of  fome  external  advantages,  and  they  are  not 
eileemed  highly  in  love  for  their  work's  fake.  How 
pairiful  muft  it  be  to  a  true  gofpel  rniniiler,  who  has 
been  ailiduouily  labouring  to  come  to  his  people,  and 
bring  them  the  iincere  milk  of  the  word,  that  they 
may  grow  thereby,  to  find  his  labours  flighted  becaufe 
of  a  deficiency  in  thofe  external  accomplifhments, 
which  are  no  eflential  part  of  the  furniture  of  a  gofpel 
preacher.  The  Apoftle  Paul  experienced  much  of  this 
affliction.  He  came  not  with  excellency  of  fpeech,  nor 

in 


C     »     ] 

in  the  words  of  man's  wifdom  ;  his  bodily  pretence 
was  weak,  and  his  fpeech  contemptible  ;  and  when 
he  preached  the  gofpel  in  the  learned  and  inquifitive 
city  of  Athens,  the  compliment  paid  him  by  that  polite 
aflembly  was,  "  What  will  this  babbler  fay  ?"  But 
the  fervant  muft  not  expect  to  be  greater  than  his 
Lord.  Jefus  himfelf,  the  beft  friend  of  mankind,  was 
received  by  his  audience  with  fuch  contemptuous 
language  as  "  Can  any  good  thing  come  out  of  Naza- 
"  reth  ?  This  man  is  a  wine-bibber  and  a  drunkard,  a 
"  friend  of  publicans  and  finners."  Was  it  not  an 
occaiion  of  grief  to  his  holy  foul,  and  to  his  faithful 
Apoftles,  to  find  themfelves  fo  difrefpe&fully  and  ig- 
nominiouily  treated  ?  and  can  it  be  otherwife  to  every 
lincere  minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift,  to  find  himfelf  defpif- 
ed,  and  his  teftimony  rejected,  by  fuch  idle  and  fuper- 
ficial  hearers  ?  Or  if  he  has  not  fo  large  a  mare  of  it 
himfelf,  yet  does  it  not  grieve  him,  to  fee  and  hear 
any  of  his  brethren,  with  whom  he  is  jointly  labouring 
in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  and  for  whom  he  entertains 
a  cordial  and  fympathetic  affection,  thus  bafely  treat- 
ed ;  whilft,  on  the  other  hand,  he  fees  multitudes  of 
people  carried  away  by  an  empty  noife,  and  dazzled 
by  a  falfe  glare  of  impudent  attractions,  when  there  is 
no  folid  food  for  their  fouls  ;  leaving  the  fubftantial 
entertainment,  prepared  for  them  by  the  ftricteft  care, 
and  running  after  the  frothy  trafh  which  is  prefented 
to  them  in  a  manner  flattering  to  their  imagination, 
and  gratifying  to  their  paffions.  Let  fuch  trials  lead 
us  to  reflect,  how  vain  a  thing  is  mere  popularity  ! 
how  low  in  the  efteem  of  him  who  was  defpifed  and 
rejected  of  men  !  and  how  earneftly  ihould  we  feek 
the  more  valuable  accomplifliment  of  being  able,  by 
manifeftation  of  the  truth,  to  commend  ourfelves  to 
every  man's  confcience  in  the  fight  of  God. 

3.  ANOTHER  of  the  afflictions  of  the  golpel  is  the 
oppcfttion  which  we  fometimes  meet  in  the  way  of  our 
duty.  We  are  commanded  not  only  tp  preach  the 

word, 


E     '2     ] 

word,  but  to  reprove  and  rebuke  offenders,  either 
privately,  in  clofe  converfation,  or  publicly,  in  the 
way  of  church  difcipline.  This  is  a  very  neceffary, 
but  difficult  and  unpleafing  part  of  minifterial  duty, 
and  we  go  to  it  as  foldiers  go  on  a  forlorn  hope :  for 
as  it  is  a  direct  attack  on  the  lufts  and  paflions  of  man- 
kind, fo  it  is  natural  to  expect  a  repulfe.  Though 
armed  with  refolution,  and  conducted  by  wifdom 
and  judgment,  yet  we  often  find  the  voice  of  reafon 
too  weak  to  be  heard,  where  luft  and  pailion  have 
ufurped  the  government  of  the  mind.  There  are 
fome  tempers  which  will  hearken  to  nothing  which 
prefumes  to  contradict  the  reigning  defire,  or  bring 
the  lawfulnefs  of  it  into  queftion.  Men  will  readily 
condemn  what  they  obferve  amifs  in  others,  as  David 
did  when  he  heard  Nathan  relate  the  ftory  of  the  rich 
man  who  took  away  the  poor  man's  lamb  ;  but  when 
it  comes  clofe  to  the  confcience,  as  did  the  application 
of  that  parable,  "  Thou  art  the  man,"  it  requires  a 
great  degree  of  patience,  humility  and  tendernefs  of 
mind,  to  receive  the  mock  in  the  fame  manner  that 
David  did ;  and  as  thefe  qualities  are  not  to  be  found 
in  every  man,  fo  wherever  they  are  wanting,  we  may 
expect  oppofition  and  ill  fuccefs.  Jnftead  of  having 
our  reproof  received  with  meeknefs,  we  fliall  hear  the 
voice  of  recrimination  ;  and  the  proverb,  "  Phyfician, 
heal  thyfelf,"  will  be  retorted.  Or  we  {hall  be 
thought  hard  and  cruel,  or  charged  with  falihood,  or 
want  of  charity,  or  taking  up  an  ill  report.  Or  they 
will  endeavour  to  revenge  themfclves,  by  inventing 
lies  againft  us,  where  there  is  no  real  ground  of  accu- 
fation.  The  prophet  complains  of  thofe  to  whom  he 
wras  obliged  to  adminifter  reproofs  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  that  they  conipired  againft  him,  faying,  "  Come, 
let  us  devife  devices  againft  Jeremiah,  let  us  fmite  him 
with  the  tongue,  and  let  us  not  give  heed  to  any  of  his 
words."  And  the  Apoftle  Paul  was,  by  fome  of  his 
brethren,  counted  an  enemy  becaufe  he  told  them  the 
truth* 

THE 


C     13     ] 

THE  principal  difficulties  of  this  kind  arife  from  the 
hypocrify  which  too  often  reigns  among  profeflbrs  of 
religion.  As  a  hollow  tree  makes  a  much  greater 
noiie,  when  flruck,  than  one  which  is  found ;  fo  the 
hypocrite,  when  his  faults  are  reproved  with  chriftian 
fidelity,  will  make  a  loud  noife,  either  in  vindicating 
his  own  character*,  or  finding  fault  with  his  reprover ; 
whereas  a  true  chriflian  receives  a  rebuke  with  meek- 
nefs  and  patience.  Let  the  righteous  finite  me,  faid 
David,  and  it  mall  be  a  kindnefs,  and  their  reproof 
mail  be  an  excellent  oil,  which  mall  not  break  my 
head.  A  reproof,  fays  Solomon,  enters  deeper  into 
a  wife  man  than  a  hundred  flripes  into  the  back  of  a 
fool.  The  wounds  of  God's  true  children  will  bear 
to  be  fearched,  and  are  foon  healed ;  but  the  wounds 
of  the  hypocrite  are  full  of  proud  flem,  which  keeps 
them  always  fore. 

BESIDES  the  oppoiition  which  we  meet  in  the  way 
of  reproof  and  discipline,  there  is  much  difficulty  arif- 
jng  from  the  ignorance,  the  weaknefs,  the  prejudices, 
and  the  narrow  views  of  fome  of  our  brethren,  whom 
we  charitably  hope  to  be  ftncere.  Thefe  caufes  will 
fometimes  produce  a  degree  of  obftinacy,  and  even 
violence,  which  may  be  miftaken  for  religious  zeal, 
and  operate  to  the  difturbance  of  order  and  peace  in 
chriftian  focieties.  Such  things  are  a  great  affliction 
to  the  minifters  of  Jefus  Chriit.  It  grieves  them  t^ 
fee  that  their  moft  laborious,  and,  as  they  hope,  pru- 
dent and  faithful  endeavours  to  remove  fcandals,  to 
convince  gainfayers,  to  eradicate  errors,  to  awaken 
men  from  a  delufive,  dangerous,  hypocritical  fleep, 
to  pluck  them  out  of  the  fire,  and  to  preferve  or 
reflore  the  purity  of  churches  and  divine  ordin- 
ances, meet  with  fo  much  oppofition  from  the 
pride,  the  perverfenels,  and  the  prejudices  of  man- 
kind, though  they  are  afTured,  and  their  Lord  hath 
forewarned  them,  it  is  impoffible  but  that  offences 
will  come. 

4.   ANOTHER 


c   14   : 

4.  ANOTHER  affliction  to  which  we  are  fubjected 
is  the  contempt  and  reproach  of  the  profane.  The  world 
has  always  been  an  enemy  to  the  truth.  Satan  loves 
to  keep  his  ftrong  hold  in  peace ;  but  when  this 
guilty  peace  is  in  danger  of  being  difturbed  by  the 
plain  and  faithful  preaching  of  the  gofpel,  or  the  ex- 
emplary conduct  of  its  minifters,  his  endeavour  is  to 
render  their  work  unfuccefsful  by  exciting  his  inftru- 
ments  to  reproach,  to  ridicule,  and  defpile  them.  If 
any,  who  bear  the  character  of  gofpel  minifters,  are  fo 
unhappy  as  to  fall  into  open  fins,  reproach  is  liberally 
caft  on  the  whole  order,  and  we  are  faid  to  be  all 
alike,  though  our  faults  are  not  made  fo  public. 
How  many  bafc  reflections,  fneering  jokes*  and  con- 
temptuous farcafms  are  caft  on  us,  as  if  we  preach 
only  for  hire ;  how  little  allowance  is  made  for  our 
unavoidable  infirmities,  interruptions  and  tempta- 
tions ;  and  how  much  more  is  expected  of  us  than  is 
reafonable.  If  we  fail  in  any  part  of  our  duty,  how 
much  greater  {hare  of  reproach  do  we  fuffer  than  oth- 
er men  in  the  fame  circumftances,  How  often  is  the 
tongue  of  flander  let  loofe  upon  us  ;  our  moft  inno- 
cent actions  are  looked  upon  with  an  eye  of  fufpicion, 
and  our  private  conduct  pried  into  with  a  bufy  and 
impertinent  curiofity !  If  we  preach  againft  any  par- 
ticular fins,  or  defcribe  any  particular  fort  of  bad 
character,  fome  perfon  or  other  will  think  he  is  point- 
ed at,  will  be  offended,  and  {hew  his  refentment.  On 
the  other  hand,  if  we  fpeak  only  in  general  terms,  to 
avoid  giving  offence,  then  we  are  cenfured  as  general 
preachers,  who  do  not  fpeak  clofe  to  the  confciences 
of  our  hearers.  Both  our  public  performances  and 
our  private  converfation  are  expofed  to  the  attacks  of 
malicious,  cavilling  and  prejudiced  tempers  ;  and  he 
muft  be  more  than  human,  who  can  behave  fo  up- 
rightly and  circumfpectly  as  in  all  cafes  to  avoid  giv- 
ing offence  ;  efpecially  when  we  confider  that  we  can 
recommend  no  duty  but  what  fome  perfon  neglects, 
and  condemn  no  fin  but  what  fome  perfon  commits. 

IT 


C     '5     ] 

IT  is  inconfiftent  with  the  character  of  a  gofpel  min- 
ifter  to  be  a  man-pleafer.  "  If  I  yet  pleafed  men," 
fays  the  Apoftle  Paul,  "  I  fhould  not  be  the  fervant  of 
Chrift."  Indeed  we  ought  to  be  condefcending  to 
men's  capacities  and  peculiarities  in  things  of  indiffer- 
ence ;  for  the  fame  Apoftle  fays,  that  he  became  all 
things  to  all  men,  and  that  he  pleafed  men  for  their 
good  to  edification.  But  beyond  this,  chriftian  fidel- 
ity will  not  warrant  us  to  go  ;  and  yet  if  we  find  our- 
felves  obliged  to  fpeak  or  act  in  a  manner  contrary  to 
men's  old  eftablilhed  opinions  and  inveterate  preju- 
dices ;  yea,  if  we  do  not  actually  fall  in  with,  and  hu- 
mour them,  we  mall  incur  their  refentment  and  for- 
feit their  favour.  We  often  find,  by  our  own  expe- 
rience, that  the  tempers  of  mankind  are  fuch  as  our 
Lord  defcribed  the  Jews  to  be.  "  Whereto  fhall  I 
liken  this  generation  ?  It  is  like  children  fitting  in  the 
market,  and  calling  to  their  fellows,  faying,  We 
have  piped  to  you,  and  ye  have  not  danced  ;  we  have 
mourned  to  you,  and  ye  have  not  lamented.  For 
John  came  neither  eating  nor  drinking,  and  ye  fay 
he  hath  a  devil.  The  fon  of  man  is  come  eating 
and  drinking,  and  ye  fay,  Behold  a  man  gluttonous, 
a  wine-bibber,  a  friend  of  publicans  and  finners.  But 
wifdom  is  juftified  of  her  children." 

5.  ANOTHER  of  the  afflictions  to  which  we  are  ex- 
pofed,  is  the  refentment  of  pretended  patriots,  when 
we  oppofe  their  views  in  endeavouring  to  ferve  our 
country.  There  is  a  monopolizing  fpirit  in  fome 
politicians,  which  would  exclude  clergymen  from  all 
attention  to  matters  of  ftate  and  government ;  which 
would  prohibit  us  from  bringing  political  fubjects  into 
the  pulpit,  and  even  threaten  us  with  the  lofs  of  our 
livings  if  we  move  at  all  in  the  political  fphere.*  But, 
my  brethren,  I  confider  politics  as  intimately  con- 
nected 

*  HAD  this  difcourfe  been  delivered  twenty  or  twenty-five  years  ago, 
it  might  have  been  conjectured  that  the  politicians  here  meant  were 
tories,  and  under  Britifh  influence  !  The  fame  language  is  now  held  by 
fome  who  think  themfelves  the  beft  friends  of  America  ! 


c    16    : 

nected  with  morality,  and  both  with  religion.  If  thef 
political  character  of  a  people  is  bad,  their  morals  arc 
equally  bad,  and  their  religion  is  good  for  nothing. 
The  fame  man  who  appears  in  the  character  of  a  poli- 
tician, is  alfo  a  fubject  of  moral  government,  and  a 
candidate  for  immortality.  Therefore  if  he  act  right 
or  wrong  as  a  politician,  he  acts  equally  right  or  wrong 
as  a  fubjecl  of  God's  moral  government  ;  his  cha- 
racter as  a  politician  will  be  brought  into  the  grand 
review  at  the  lait  day,  and  his  future  It  ate  will  be 
determined  accordingly.  This  doctrine,  I  am  feniible, 
is  not  agreeable  to  the  practice  of  fome  men,  who  act 
with  a  tolerable  regard  to  the  principles  of  morality 
in  their  common  buiinefs  ;  but  when  they  get  into 
a  political  body,  relax  their  ideas  of  morality,  and  en- 
deavour to  carry  a  point  by  any  means  whatever. 
Againft  fuch  an  idea  of  politics,  I  think  it  my  duty  to 
proteft  ;  for  I  believe  that  honefty  is  the  beft  policy, 
both  in  private  and  public  life. 

Now  if  it  be  the  duty  of  gofpel  minifters  to  preach 
morality,  it  is  their  duty  to  preach  it  to  public  as  well 
as  private  men.  Did  not  the  ancient  prophets  warn 
the  princes  of  Ifrael  and  Judah  of  their  duty,  and  re- 
prove them  for  their  mifconduct  in  their  political 
characters  ?  Did  not  our  Lord  Jefus  Chftft  recom- 
mend to  the  jews  to  render  to  Caefar  the  things  which 
were  Caefar 's,  in  direct  and  decided  contradiction  to 
the  principles  of  the  dlforganlzing  Pharifees  ?  t)id  not 
the  Apoftle  Paul,  in  his  epiftle  to  the  Romans,  defcribe 
the  character  of  good  and  bad  rulers,  and  teach  the 
Chriltians  how  to  diftinguifli  one  from  the  other  ? 
Did  not  the  Apoftle  Peter  pointedly  denounce  the 
judgment  of  God  againit  thofe  who  defpife  govern- 
ment, and  fpeak  evil  of  dignities,  ftigmatizing  them 
with  the  epithets  of  prefumptuous  and  felf-willed  ; 
characterizing  them  as  political  hypocrites,  who,  whilft 
they  promife  liberty,  are  themfelves  fervants  of  cor- 
ruption j  comparing  them  to  Balaam,  who  loved  the 

wages 


C      '7      ] 

wages  of  unrighteoufnefs  ;  and  applying  to  them  that 
true  proverb,  The  dog  is  turned  to  his  own  vomit, 
and  the  fow  that  was  waflied  to  her  wallowing  in  the 
mire  ?  *  This,  in  the  apoftolic  age,  was  plain,  honeft, 
gofpel  preaching  ;  and  if  there  appear  any  fuch  cha- 
racters among  us,  why  ihould  not  the  minifters  of  the 
gofpel,  in  the  fame  manner,  expofe  them  to  the  public 
odium  ?  It  is  true,  that  the  Apoflles  did  not  call  fuch 
men  by  their  proper  names,  but  only  drew  their  cha- 
racter, and  left  it  to  be  applied  where  it  belonged.  The 
like  prudence  mould  we  ufe;  but  if  men  willcondefcend 
to  wear  fuch  a  character,  they  muft  blame  themfelves 
for  the  reproach  which  is  neceflarily  attached  to  it. 

THE  Roman  government,  under  which  the  Apoflles 
lived,- was  a  mixture  of  the  old  republican  forms  with 
military  defpotifm  :  That  government  was  eftablifh- 
ed  ;  but  the  Jews,  though  protected  and  indulged  in 
the  free  exercife  of  their  religion,  were  continually 
uneafy,  and  frequently  exciting  infurrection  and  re- 
volt, not  only  in  the  province  of  Judea,  but  in  theif 
various  difperfions  through  the  empire.  To  this  dif* 
organizing  faffion,  the  apoftolic  reproofs  were  addreffed ; 
for  as  the  Chriftian  Religion  was  not  defigned  to  over- 
throw any  of  the  kingdoms  of  this  world,fo  it  inculcat- 
ed a  fpirit  of  peace  and  loyalty  on  all  who  profeiTed  it. 

HAD  the  Apoftles  lived  in  thefe  days,  and  among  us, 
who  have  the  privilege  of  choofmg  our  own  rulers,  I 
have  no  doubt  that  they  would  have  exhorted  us  to 
exercife  our  privileges  by  none  but  honeft  and  lawful 
means.  They  would  have  advifed  the  people  to  carry 
the  principles  of  Chriftian  morality  to  a  town-meeting 
as  well  as  to  the  exchange.  They  would  have  advifed 
legiflators  to  carry  the  fame  principles  to  the  fenate 
and  houfe  of  aflembly  ;  they  would  have  advifed 
executive  and  judicial  officers  to  carry  the  fame  prin- 
ciples to  the  bar,  to  the  bench,  to  the  council-board 5 
and  to  the  Governor's  chair.  They  would  have  ad- 
vifed us  to  be  confiftent  and  uniform  in  our  regards 

G         *  See  2  Peter,  chap.  ii.  ver.  10,  i;,  19,  aa.  t7 


to  God  and  man,  in  every  fituation,  private  or  public  , 
and  this  is  the  duty  of  gofpel  minifters. 

IT  is  very  ftrange  that  we  may  not  preach  on  the 
fame  fubjects  which  are  recommended  to  us  as  fubjeds 
of  prayer.  In  the  annual  proclamations  for  fails  and 
thanksgivings  we  are  exhorted  to  pray  and  give  thanks 
on  a  great  variety  of  political  fubjects,  foreign  and 
domefuc.  And  what  good  reafon  can  be  given  why 
thefe  fame  fubjefts  mould  not  bedifcourfedon,aswell 
as  prayed  over  ?  It  is  expected,  that  we  bring  them 
into  the  pulpit  in  our  prayers,  and  it  is  by  fome  people 
highly  refented  if  we  do  not.  When  we  have  them 
in  our  mind  as  proper  filbjefts  for  devotion,  why 
fhould  we  not  fpeak  and  difcourfe  on  them  for  the 
inilruction  of  our  hearers  ?  Muft  we  make  an  addrefs 
to  God  on  political  fubjecl:s,  and  may  we  not  make  an 
addrefs  to  our  brethren  on  the  fame  fubjects  ?  I  would 
not  be  guilty  of  fo  firange  an  inconiiftency. 

IT  mould  be  confidered  that  we  are  men  of  like 
paflions.  with  others.  We  feel  ourfelves  interefted 
equally  with  our  brethren  in  the  fame  religious,  moral, 
and  political  matters  ;  and  where  there  is  freedom  of 
fpeech,  as  I  truft  there  always  will  be  in  this  happy 
country,  we  ought  not  to  be  blamed  if  we  ufe  the 
liberty  of  Americans  to  fpeak  our  minds  at  proper 
times,  and  in  a  decent  manner,  on  political  as  well  as 
on  moral  and  religious  topics. 

BUT  "  there  is  a  generation  that  are  pure  in  their 
own  eyes,  though  their  teeth  are  as  fwords  !"  And 
how  liberal  are  fome  tongues,  fome  pens,  and  fome 
preffes,  with  their  abufe,  when  we  appear  warm  and 
zealous  in  the  caufe  of  our  country  !  When  we  fpeak 
or  write  in  fupport  of  its  liberties,  its  conftitution,  its 
peace  and  its  honor,  we  are  ftigmat  ized  as  bufy-bodies, 
as  tools  of  a  party,  as  meddling  with  what  does  not 
belong  to  us,  and  ufurping  authority  over  our 
brethren. 

WHATEVER 


C     <9    ] 

WHATEVER  may  be  the  views  of  thofe  who  are  of 
a  different  opinion  from  me,  refpecting  this  matter, 
yet  I  confider  their  principle,  that  the  clergy  have  no 
right  to  meddle  with  politics,  and  their  endeavour  to 
flop  our  mouths,  as  "  pregnant  with  mifchief,"  tend- 
ing to  keep  the  people  in  ignorance,  and  expoling 
them  to  be  milled  by  thofe  who  would  always  pretend 
that  the  people  ihall  govern,  provided  that  they  mall 
govern  the  people. 

THE  time  has  been,  when  fome  of  thefe  fame  per- 
fons  were  very  fond  of  engaging  the  clergy  in  politics, 
encouraging  them  to  write  and  preach,  or,  to  ufe  a 
phrafe  of  their  own,  "  blow  the  trumpet,"  in  defence 
of  the  liberties  of  their  country.  But,  alas,  how 
changed,  how  fallen  !  From  fuch  politicians,  and  fuch 
patriots,  the  good  Lord  deliver  us  ! 

6.  THERE  is  another  affliction  of  the  gofpel,  which 
I  would  gladly  omit,  if  the  omiffion  might  not  be 
deemed  improper,  and  that  is  the  difficulty  which  we 
fometimes  experience  for  want  of  a  competent  temporal 
fupport.  Though  the  Apoflles  in  the  infancy  of  the 
church,  laboured  with  their  hands  that  they  might 
not  be  chargeable  to  the  new  converts,  yet  they 
challenged  it  as  a  right,  not  only  for  themfelves, 
but  for  all  fucceeding  minifters,  that  thofe  who  preach 
the  gofpel  fhould  live  of  the  gofpel.  This  is  a  dic- 
tate of  reafon  and  juftice,  an  injunction  of  the  law 
of  God,  and  of  the  government  under  which  we  live. 
But  in  many  inftances  it  happens,  that  through  cov- 
etoufnefs,  or  careleffnefs,  or  prejudice,  or  a  fpirit  of 
evaiion  and  procraftination,  the  fupport  we  receive  is 
either  infufficient  in  itfelf,  or  is  fo  long  in  coming, 
that  we  are  reduced  to  ftraits  and  fufferings  for  want 
of  it.  In  thefe  cafes,  we  have  but  a  choice  of  difficult- 
ies. If  we  complain,  we  are  cenfured  as  impatient 
and  querulous.  If  we  lie  ftill,  and  do  nothing  to 
help  ourfelves,  we  are  faid  to  be  carelefs  and  improv- 
ident. If  we  folicit  benefactions,  we  are  ftigruatized 

as 


20 


as  beggars.  If  we  work  with  our  hands,  or  engage 
in  any  literary  labours,  we  are  called  worldly  mind- 
ed, and  negligent  of  our  proper  bufinefs.  If  we  ap- 
peal to  the  laws  of  our  country,  and  compel  our  peo- 
ple to  do  us  juftice,  it  is  a  wonder  if  there  be  not  fuch 
a  fpirit  of  refentment  raifed  againft  us,  as  will  either 
make  a  continual  uneafinefs,  or  elfe  terminate  in  a 
feparation. 

ENOUGH  has  now  been  faid,  to  convince  all  who 
could  entertain  any  doubt,  that  the  profeflion  of  the 
gofpel  miniftry  is  neceffarily  attended  with  difficulties, 
and  fubjects  us  to  peculiar  afflictions  and  trials.  If  I 
fliould  fay  that  moft  of  thefe  ideas  are  the  refult  of 
my  own  experience,  I  am  fure  that  many  of  my  fath- 
ers and  brethren,  who  hear  me,  can  from  their  expe- 
rience teftify  to  the  truth  of  them.  Others  might  be 
mentioned  with  as  much  propriety  as  any  of  thefe  ; 
but  it  muft  be  fufficiently  apparent  that  the  exhorta- 
tion in  the  text  is  of  very  important  ufe,  Be  tbou 
partaker  of  the  afflictions  of  the  go/pel.  Two  ideas  feem 
to  be  implied  in  this  exhortation  ;  one  is,  that  we  do 
not  fuffer  alone,  but  are  partakers  with  each  other  in 
thefe  afflictions  ;  the  other  is,  that  we  mould  have  our 
minds  prepared  for  them,  fo  as  not  to  be  difappointed 
or  difcouraged.  If  we  fuffer  in  company  with  our  fath- 
ers and  brethren,  we  have  the  benefit  of  their  exam- 
ple and  of  their  advice  ;  and  it  is  a  confolation  to  us 
to  reflect  that  we  are  partakers  with  the  beft  of  men 
in  thefe  trials  and  difficulties.  This  conlideration  will 
help  to  prepare  our  minds  to  receive  them,  and  keep 
us  from  finking  under  them.  But  there  is  another 
motive  fuggefted  by  the  Apoflle,  which  merits  our 
particular  attention.  Be  thou  partaker  of  the  afflic- 
tions of  the  gofpel,  according  to  the  power  of  God. 

LET  us  then  inquire,why,and  in  what  fenfe,the/<5w<?r 
of  God  is  given  as  a  reafon  of  the  exhortation  in  the  text. 

IN  the  preceding  verfes  the  Apoftle  had  reprefented 
the  divine  power  as  part  of  the  gift  which  Timothy 

had 


C         21         ] 

had  received ;  "  Stir  up  the  gift  that  is  in  thee,  by  the 
putting  on  of  my  hands,  for  God  hath  not  given  us 
the  fpirit  of  fear,  but  of  power,  and  love,  and  a  found 
mind."  By  which  we  learn,  that  a  fpirit  of  power  is 
reckoned  among  the  minifterial  gifts,  and  neceflary 
to  the  difcharge  of  the  minifterial  office.  The  mean- 
ing of  this,  as  far  as  it  refpecls  the  ordinary  miniilers 
of  the  church,  I  take  to  be,  that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  al- 
ways ready,  with  his  powerful  influence,  to  fupport 
and  comfort  the  minifters  of  the  word ;  to  communi- 
cate to  them  all  the  energy,  boldnefs  and  patience  which 
they  need,  to  enable  them  to  bear  the  trials,  and  go 
through  the  duties  of  their  important  ftation  ;  and 
the  recollection  of  the  gift  received  in  their  ordina- 
tion or  appointment  to  this  office,  the  gift  of  a  fpirit 
of  power ,  will  fo  put  them  and  continue  them  in  the 
way  of  their  duty,  as  that  they  may  confidently  rely 
on  the  aid  of  the  divine  fpirit,  for  their  fupport. 
Chrift  has  promifed  to  be  with  his  minifters  to  the 
end  of  the  world ;  and  when  they  are  engaged  with 
refolution  and  fidelity  in  his  fervice,  he  who  has  a 
feeling  of  their  infirmities,  and  is  ever  attentive  to 
their  wants  and  requefts,  will  enable  them,  by  his 
power,  to  perfevere  in  the  way  of  their  duty,  and  fo 
far  to  overcome  all  the  oppofition  which  may  be 
made  againft  them,  as  that  the  caufe  of  truth  mail, 
on  the  whole,  profper  in  their  hands,  and  be  promot- 
ed by  their  miniftry. 

IN  humble  reliance,  therefore,  on  this  divine  power, 
we  mould  fet  ourfelves  refolutely  and  earneftly  about 
our  Mafter's  work,  and  not  be  moved  from  our  fted- 
faftnefs  by  any  of  the  afflictions  of  the  gofpel.  For  if 
we  have  a  proper  faith  in  this  power  ;  and  a  proper 
knowledge  of  the  manner  in  which  it  is  conveyed, 
and  has  been  exercifed,  we  {hall  be  fatisfied  that  it 
is  fufficient  for  the  purpofe  for  which  it  is  given. 

AND  here,  we  may,  with  propriety,  look  back  to 
the  primitive  times  of  Chxiftianity,  and  fee  how  this 

divine 


C         «         ] 

divine  power  was  manifefted  in  fupporting  the  firft 
preachers  of  the  gofpel,  in  times  of  far  greater  diffi- 
culty than  the  prefent.  They  had  to  encounter  the 
molt  fierce  and  formidable  oppofition  from  inveterate 
prejudices,  from  malicious  paffions,  from  over-heated 
zeal,  and  from  a  combination  of  powerful  interefts. 
They  had  to  travel  among  all  forts  of  people,  civilized 
and  iavage,  learned  and  unlearned,  by  fea  and  by  land, 
without  any  certain  temporal  revenues  or  means  of 
fupport.  They  had  to  preach  a  new  doctrine,  and 
introduce  a  rational  and  iimple  form  of  wormip,  in 
defiance  of  ancient  fuperftition,  the  craft  of  priefts,  the 
eloquence  of  orators,  the  authority  of  magiftrates,  and 
the  policy  of  princes.  The  perfons  employed  in  this 
iervice  were  in  general  illiterate,  void  of  art,  actuated 
by  an  honeft  regard  to  their  duty.  They  were  fully 
convinced  themfelves  of  the  truth  of  what  they  re- 
ported, but  were  deftitute  of  thofe  natural  and  exter- 
nal advantages,  which  human  wifdom  would  deem 
neceffary  to  introduce  a  new  religion,  and  recommend 
it  to  the  notice  and  efteem  of  the  world.  Yet  they 
went  out  on  their  arduous  and  benevolent  work  with- 
out fear  ;  they  perfevered  in  it  with  wifdom  and  bold- 
nefs,  and  they  were  greatly  fuccefsful  in  their  en- 
deavours to  promote  the  caufe  of  their  Matter,  and 
fubdue  the  hearts  of  men  to  the  obedience  of  the 
truth.  And  to  what  means  can  this  remarkable  fuc- 
cefs  be  afcribed,  but  to  a  divine  power ,  upholding  and 
fupporting  them, and  co-operating  with  their  exertions 
to  produce  this  mighty  effect.  To  this  caufe,  the 
Apoftles  themfelves  afcribe  it.  "  Our  gofpel  came  to 
you  not  in  word  only,  but  in  power  ^  and  in  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  and  in  much  affurance."  "  My  preaching  was 
not  with  enticing  words  of  man's  wifdom,  but  in 
demonftration  of  the  fpirit,  and  of  power" 

SOME  may  think,  that  in  the  idea  of  this  power, 
might  have  been  comprehended  the  gift  of  miracles, 
by  which  they  were  enabled  to  make  a  direct  appeal 

to 


C     *3    D 

to  the  fenfes  of  mankind,  and  prove  that  they  had  an 
extraordinary  commiilion  from  God.  But  this  was 
a  temporary  thing.  There  is  a  power  accompanying 
gofpel  preaching,  diftincl:  from  the  gift  of  miracles  ; 
a  power,  by  which  they  were  fupported  in  the  exer- 
cife  of  their  office,  and  by  which  their  preaching  was 
rendered  effectual  to  the  end  for  which  it  was  appoint- 
ed. This  was  a  divine  energy,  communicated  to 
them,  by  wrhich  they  were  ftrengthened  and  animated 
to  go  on  boldly  and  courageoufly  with  their  Mailer's 
work,  in  defiance  of  all  the  oppolition  which  the  world 
could  throw  in  their  way.  It  is  not  eafy  to  defcribe 
this  energy  but  by  its  effect  ;  and  of  this  we  have  a 
remarkable  inflance,  in  the  different  conduct  of  Peter, 
before  and  after  he  was  endowed  with  the  fpirit  of 
power.  Before  our  Lord's  death,  we  find  this  for- 
ward, fanguine  difciple,  failing  of  his  duty  in  a  moft 
fhameful  manner.  One  hour  profefling,  "  Though 
all  men  mould  forfake  thee,  yet  will  I  never  forfake 
thee  ;"  "  Though  I  mould  die  with  thee,  yet  I  will 
not  deny  thee  ;"  and  the  next,  denying  that  he  knew 
his  Mafter  ;  and  when  clofely  preffed  on  the  fubject, 
adding  oaths  and  curfes  to  confirm  the  denial.  We 
find  him  afraid  not  only  of  the  high-prieft  and  rulers, 
but  even  of  their  fervants  ;  and  though  he  feemed  to 
recover  from  this  fall,  and  med  tears  of  remorfe  for 
his  folly,  yet,  when  his  Lord  was  actually  led  to  ex- 
ecution, he  was  one  of  thofe  who  forfook  him,  and 
fled.  This  was  an  affecting  inftance  of  inconftancy 
and  timidity,  which  would  feem  to  have  difqualifiec! 
Peter  from  being  an  Apoftle  of  Chrift,  and  a  preacher 
of  his  gofpel.  But,  mark  the  difference  in  his  conduct, 
after  the  defcent  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  upon  him.  Then 
he  could  declare  to  the  Jewilh  multitude,  "  This  Jems, 
whom  ye  have  taken,  and  with  wicked  hands  have 
crucified  and  flain,  God  hath  raifed  up,  of  which  all 
we  are  witnefles.  God  hath  made  the  fame  Jems 
both  Lord  and  Chrift."  Then  he  could  tell  the  Jew- 
ifh  rulers,  when  afiembled  in  council,  "  The  God  of 

our 


t  24  i 

dur  fathers  hath  raifed  up  Jefus,  whom  ye  flew,  and 
hanged  on  a  tree."  And  when  he  and  his  brother 
John  were  forbidden,  by  the  Jewifh  council,  to  preach 
in  the  name  of  Jefus,  he  could  boldly  anfwer,  "  We 
ought  to  obey  God  rstther  than  Men."  Here  we  have 
a  complete  fpecimen  of  the  effect  of  that  fpirit  of 
power,  with  which  the  primitive  minifters  were  en- 
dowed ;  which  enabled  them  to  perfevere  with  a  holy 
fortitude  in  confefling  Chriil  before  men,  who  were 
enraged  againft  them,  and  tliirfted  for  their  blood. 
We  fee  that  this  power  can  make  the  feeble  ftrong, 
and  transform  the  coward  into  a  hero. 

WITH  this  fpirit  of  power,  all  the  true  minifters  of 
Chrift  are  endowed.  It  was  not  like  the  gift  of  mir- 
acles, confined  to  the  primitive  age  ;  but  it  is  diffufed 
univerfally.  Every  minifter  of  Jems  Chrift  has,  or 
may  have>  a  fhare  of  it ;  and,  were  it  not  for  this,  it 
would  be  impoflible  for  us  to  fupport  our  character, 
or  endure  the  trials  and  afflictions  to  which  we  are 
fubjecl,  and  which  will  befal  us  in  the  courfe  of  our 
miniftry.  Were  it  not  for  this,  we  mould  firik  under 
the  burden  of  our  labours  and  fufferings ;  or  elfe5 
forfake  the  fervice  of  Chrift,  and,  like  Demas,  feek 
our  portion  and  enjoyment  in  the  things  of  this  vain 
world.  The  Apoftle,  therefore,  wifely  refers  to  this 
divine  energy,  as  the  proper  ground  of  encourage- 
ment to  Timothy,  in  partaking  of  the  afflictions  of 
the  gofpel.  He  knew  that  there  was  a  fpirit  of  power 
in  him,  and  communicated  to  him  by  his  divine  Maf- 
ter,  which  would  uphold  and  fupport  him  in  affliction 
and  tribulation  ;  which  would  enable  him  to  endure 
hardnefs  as  a  good  foldier  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  carry  him 
fafely  and  honourably  through  his  chriftian  warfare. 
The  fame  ground  of  comfort  there  is  to  every  faithful 
fervant  of  Jefus  Chrift.  We  are  exhorted,  therefore, 
to  be  partakers  of  the  afflictions  of  the  gofpel,  accord- 
ing to  the  power  of  God.  Thefe  afflictions  are  permit- 
ted to  befal  us  by  our  wife  and  gracious  Lord,  who 

knows 


C     *5    3 

knows  how  to  proportion  our  trials  to  our  ftrength ; 
who,  having  given  us  a  fpirit  of  power,  gives  us  alfo 
opportunity  to  exercife  it ;  that  in  much  tribulation 
we  may  approve  ourfelves  faithful  to  his  caufe,  and 
diligent  in  his  fervice. 

FROM  what  has  now  been  obferved,  agreeable  to 
the  text,  we  may  infer,  the  miftake  of  thofe  per- 
fons  who  affect  to  think  the  work  of  the  gofpel 
miniftry  an  eafy  thing.  It  has  been  often  faid,  by  fu- 
perficial  obfervers^  that  minifters  lead  an  eafy  life.* 
becaufe  they  do  not  work  for  their  living,  but  are 
maintained  by  their  people*  Granting  the  premifes 
to  be  true,  yet  the  conclufion  will  not  follow.  If  our 
Lord  has  excufed  us  from  manual  labour,  and  if  our 
people  comply  ever  fo  well  with  his  directions  in  fup- 
porting  us,  yet  he  muft  be  a  great  ftranger  to  the  du- 
ties of  the  miniftry,  who  thinks  our  work  eafy,  and 
that  we  have  not  bufmels  enough  to  give  us  full  em- 
ployment. 

IT  is  a  fact,  confirmed  by  long  and  repeated  expe- 
rience, that  the  work  which  we  are  obliged  to  do, 
and  the  trials  which  we  are  called  to  endure,  are 
more  wafting  to  the  health  and  fpirits  than  any  kind 
of  bodily  labour  which  men  ufually  perform.  Ex- 
ercife of  body  tends  to  confirm  and  eftablifli  the 
health ;  but  the  exercife  of  the  mind,  which  falls  to 
our  lot,  often  proves  ruinous  to  the  health,  and  wears 
away  the  conftitution  in  a  moft  unaccountable  man- 
ner; The  thoughtfulnefs,  the  watchfulnefs,  the  felf- 
denial,  the  anxiety,  the  clofe  application,  and  intenfe 
ftretch  of  the  mental  powers  in  deep  ftudy  and  con- 
templation, which  form  an  eiTential  part  of  our  \vork5 
are  exercifes  unknown  to  the  bulk  of  mankind.  If5 
on  any  particular  occafion,  they  are  called  to  fuch 
kind  of  labour,  how  painful  and  tedious  is  it  to  them, 
and  how  eagerly  do  they  embrace  the  firil  opportu- 
nity to  get  rid  of  it !  But  it  is  our  conftant  employ- 
ment. The  inward  labour  of  our  mind,  our  conflicts 
D  with 


L       *6       ] 

with  our  owii  corruptions,  and  our  application  to 
facred  ftudies,  are  objects  which  the  world  does  not 
fee,  and  therefore  can  form  no  idea  of  them.  Our 
public  difcourfes  are  the  refult  of  deep  thought  and 
ftricl  inquiry ;  and  yet  how  often  does  it  happen  that 
thofe  diicourfes  are  leaft  regarded ;  whilft  the  tinfel 
trumpery  of  him  "that  beateth  the  air"  is  admired 
as  the  perfection  of  wifdom  and  rhetoric  !  the  beaten 
oil  of  the  fancluary  is  quickly  confumed,  and  its  light 
appears  to  have  been  fpent  in  vain  !  whilft  the  twink- 
ling of  an  ignis  fatitus  mall  draw  after  it  crouds  of 
admirers !  If  our  brethren  did  but  know  the  labour, 
the  patience,  the  felf  application,  the  trials  and  dif- 
eouragements,  which  fall  to  our  lot,  they  would  pity 
us,  and  pray  for  us,  rather  than  think  our  work  light 
and  eafy. 

BUT  notwithstanding  all  thefe  trials  and  difcourage- 
ments,  yet  we  are  not  without  our  mare  of  comfort ; 
there  are  confolations,  as  well  as  afflictions,  of  the  gof- 
pel ;  and  he  who  hath  appointed  us  to  the  one,  knows 
how  to  impart  to  us  the  other.  His  grace  is  fufficient 
for  us,  and  his  flrength  is  made  perfect  in  our  weak- 
nefs.%  The  Apoftle  Paul  could  fay,  "  BleiTed  be  God, 
even  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl,  the  Father 
of  mercies,  and  the  God  of  all  comfort,  who  comfort- 
eth  us  in  all  our  tribulation,  that  we  may  be  able  to 
comfort  them  who  are  in  any  trouble,  by  the  comfort 
with  which  we  ourfelves  are  comforted  of  God ;  for 
as  the  fufferings  of  Chrift  abound  in  us,  fo  our  con- 
folation  alfo  aboundeth  by  Chrifl."  And  I  doubt 
not,  my  fathers  and  brethren,  that  as  ye  have  been  par- 
takers of  the  afflictions,  fo  ye  have  alfo  been  partakers 
of  the  confolations  of  the  gofpel.  If  fome  perfons 
have  been  inftructed,  converted,  and  edified  by  our 
miniftry,  the  knowledge  which  we  have  of  thefe  good 
effects,  wrought  in  the  minds  of  our  hearers,  affords 
us  proportionable  fatisfaction,  that  we  have  not 
wholly  laboured  in  vain*  God  often  gives  us  to  fee 

feme 


C     »7     3 

fome  good  fruit  produced  by  our  miniftry  ;  and 
though  we  fee  not  fo  much  as  we  could  wifh,  yet  we 
may  have  been  inftrumental  of  doing  more  good  than 
ever  has,  or  ever  will,  actually  come  to  our  knowl- 
edge in  this  world.  The  hufbandman,  in  the  para- 
ble, is  reprefented  as  fowing  his  feed,  and  fleeping  and 
riling  night  and  day,  while  the  feed  fprings  and  grows 
up  he  knoweth  not  how  ;  fo  it  is  our  duty  to  keep  our- 
felves  employed  in  our  minifterial  labours,  leaving  the 
fuccefs  of  them  to  the  fecret,  imperceptible  influence 
of  divine  truth,  which  operates  not  by  external  might 
or  power,  but  by  the  fpirit  of  him  who  has  free  and 
perfect  accefs  to  the  human  heart  at  all  times.  We 
fee  a  fountain  pouring  out  conftant  ftreams  of  water 
for  ages,  and  yet  now  and  then  only  fome  thirfty 
perfon  comes  to  drink.  From  the  analogy  between 
natural  and  fpiritual  objects  we  may  learn  that  God's 
word  will  not  return  to  him  void,  but  (hall  accom- 
plifli  the  purpofe  for  which  it  is  fent ;  and  though 
only  now  and  then  fome  thirfty  finner  comes  to  drink, 
yet  we  fhould  rejoice  that  the  water  of  life  has  not 
been  flowing  in  vain. 

IF  we  are  faithful  in  our  Matter's  fervice,  though 
we  may  be  defpifed  by  the  thoughtlefs  and  profane, 
yet  we  fhall  be  refpected  by  the  wife  and  good  ;  we 
lhall  have  fuch  a  mare  of  influence  over  mankind  as 
we  may  ufe  to  their  advantage,  both  in  a  moral  and 
political  view  ;  and  we  ihall  receive  fuch  outward 
tokens  of  friendihip  as  will  help  to  fupport  us,  and 
keep  our  courage  from  failing  even  in  the  moft  diffi- 
cult trials.  Though  we  fow  in  tears,  we  fhall  reap  ia 
joy  ;  and  at  the  great  harveft-day,  and  not  before,  we 
fhall  fee  the  whole  fruit  of  our  labour,  to  our  abundant 
fatisfaction. 

MY  brethren,  of  this  whole  congregation,  you  have 
heard  v  fome  enumeration  of  the  afflictions  of  the  gof- 
pel ;  and  among  them,  the  want  of  a  competent  tern,- 
poral  fupport,  which  often  falls  to  the  lot  of  its  min- 

iiters 


C     **    3 

ifters  and  their  families.  It  has  been  the  laudable 
pra&ice  of  this  convention,  for  many  years,  and  it 
may  be  juftly  reckoned  the  beft  part  of  our  bufinels  at 
thefe  annual  meetings,  to  contribute  to  the  relief  of 
the  widows  and  orphans  of  our  deceafed  brethren  5 
who  are  fometimes  left  in  deftitute  circumftances. 
This  is  a  fpecies  of  confolation  which  it  is  in  every 
one's  power  to  adminifter  in  fome  degree  ;  and  if  it 
be  ever  fo  fmall,  it  will  be  accepted  by  him  who  hath 
faid,  "  He  that  receiveth  a  prophet  in  the  name  of  a 
prophet  mall  receive  a  prophet's  reward  ;  and  he  that 
receiveth  a  righteous  man  in  the  name  of  a  righteous 
man  {hall  receive  a  righteous  man's  reward  ;  and 
whofoever  mail  give  to  one  of  thefe  little  ones  that 
believe  in  me,  a  cup  of  cold  water  only,  in  the  name 
of  a  difciple,  verily  I  fay  to  you,  he  lhall  in  no  wife 
lofe  his  reward." 

IF  the  time  would  allow,  I  might  urge  your  atten- 
tion to  this  part  of  duty  by  a  variety  of  conflderations  ^ 
but  there  is  one,  which  I  cannot  omit,  becaufe  I  think 
it  is  founded  in  fac"fc,  and  yet  has  not,  perhaps,  been 
fo  much  attended  to  as  it  defer  ves.  It  is  well  known, 
that  many  of  our  order  have  but  a  fmall  income  ;  it 
is  alfo  well  known,  that  many  of  our  families  make  a 
decent  appearance,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  To 
what  caufe  can  this  be  owing,  but  to  a  principle  of 
(Economy,  which  is,  I  believe,  generally,  a  chara&eriftic 
of  our  families  ?  I  do  not  mean  to  fpeak  without  ex- 
ception, becaufe  it  would  not  be  confiflent  with  truth. 
This  principle,  being  once  formed  into  habit,  is  not 
cafily  loft  ;  but  when  the  wife  becomes  a  widow,  and 
the  children  orphans,  it  is  of  unfpeakable  advantage, 
to  them. 

IT  is  alfb  well  known,  that  our  brethren  are  gener- 
ally difpofed  to  give  their  children  a  good  education. 
Having  no  profpect  of  leaving  them  an  inheritance, 
and  being  feniible  of  the  great  advantage  of  education, 
and  the  great  difadvantage  of  a  ftate  of  dependence, 

they 


C     *9     ] 

they  are  earneft  to  put  their  children  into  a  way  of 
being  able  to  get  their  own  living  independently,  and, 
at  the  fame  time,  of  being  ufeful  to  the  community. 
The  good  effect  of  thefe  caufes  is  vifible  in  every  part 
of  the  country,  and  this  town  contains  fome  valuable 
examples  of  it.  Take  a  general  view  of  our  citizens, 
and  you  will  find,  or  by  inquiry  you  may  foon  be  in- 
formed of  the  fons  of  clergymen,  who  make  a  capital 
figure  in  all  the  departments  of  bufinefs.  You  will  fee 
them  among  our  moft  active  and  enterprifing  mer- 
chants, and  our  moil  induftrious  and  reputable  tradef- 
men.  You  will  fee  them  mine,  at  the  bar,  on  the 
bench,  in  the  medical  faculty,  in  the  pulpit,  in  our 
legiflative  affemblies  ;  and  even  the  chief  feat  of  our 
government  was  lately  filled  with  a  gentleman  of  this 
defcription.  Look  into  the  female  line,  and  you  will 
find  among  the  daughters  of  clergymen  fome  of  the 
brighter!  ornaments  of  the  fex. 

WHEN  thefe  things  are  confidered,  you  will  permit 
me  to  fay,  that  in  foliating  charity  for  the  widows 
and  orphans  of  my  brethren,  I  am  pleading  the  caufe, 
not  of  thofe  who  are  too  proud  or  too  lazy  to  work, 
but  of  thofe  who,  with  a  little  afliftance,  in  their  pref- 
ent  circumflances,  may,  in  time,  become  ornaments  of 
their  country,  and  pillars  of  church  and  ftate. 

To  conclude.  Let  us  never  be  weary  in  well-doing. 
We  ferve  a  good  Matter,  and  we  cannot  ferve  him  too 
much  ;  he  is  a  vigilant  obferver  of  our  conduct,  and 
he  views  not  only  the  outward  appearance,  but  the 
heart.  Let  fincerity  and  uprightnefs,  then,  govern 
our  whole  deportment.  Let  us  be  ready  to  every 
good  work  ;  and  we  fhall  find,  by  our  own  experi- 
ence, that  in  ferving  God,  we  are  ferving  ourfelves  ; 
and  that  in  furFering  according  to  his  will,  we  are 
promoting  our  own  true  happinefs,  both  here  and 
hereafter. 


END. 


